old school chain pulley steering

[barneyboater]

hi,

Hope someone can help but i have just bought a press 30, 32 foot wooden broads cruiser built in 1966 been stripping the inside for refit and found it still has the original chain to steel cable steering system and i'm now wanting to change to an up to date system to make life easyer. Has anyone got any idea's on what system to go for? it has an perkin 4.107 inboard with rudder steering.
help and information would be fantastic

thanks Carl

 

[maxi]

How about using ,"Spectra" or "Dyneema" instead of the chain. These modern lines have very high safe working loads and are usually very resistant to friction, and most importantly have very very low stretch characteristics.

I installed just this system in my 32' yacht some 15 years ago and it has been excellent and has made many channel crossings & been absolutely problem free - after some adjustment to counter the initial (small degree) of stretch when new.

Benefits: much lighter in weight, lighter on the helm and totally quiet in operation, and cheap.

 

[Tranona]

Another alternative is to ditch the whole lot if it is not working well and fit a hydraulic system. See www.vetus.com for hydraulic systems.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Morse teleflex, much cheaper than hydraulic

 

[Boathook]

Get the pulleys refurbished with new bronze shafts, new wire and you are back up and running. Basic system and normally repairable when it breaks! I have just had mine done and it is very good compared with last season!